Who Owns Fox News?

Fox News operates within Fox Corporation's corporate responsibility framework. Fox Corporation has set goals to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions and reports environmental data in its annual CSR reports. The company's 2024 Corporate Social Responsibility Report covers the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and includes Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 greenhouse gas emissions data verified by independent third parties.

Fox News implements energy-efficient technologies in its studio facilities at 1211 Avenue of the Americas in Midtown Manhattan. The network uses LED lighting, advanced HVAC systems, and energy management systems in its production facilities. Fox Corporation's broader sustainability strategy covers environmental impact across media production and distribution.

Fox Corporation publishes annual Political Activities Reports detailing political contributions and lobbying activities. The company maintains a Human Rights Statement committing to respecting human rights across its operations and supply chain. Fox News operates under Fox Corporation's Standards of Business Conduct, which include anti-bribery and anti-corruption policies.

Fox Corporation has not been certified as a B Corporation. The company has not obtained independent environmental certifications for its broadcasting operations. The sustainabilityFlags frontmatter field is empty because no independently verified certifications from the allowed list have been confirmed for the brand. Fox Corporation's sustainability commitments are self-reported in its CSR reports.

Fox News has received limited third-party recognition that can be independently verified. The network's most notable recognition relates to its ratings dominance and individual journalism awards.

Cable News Ratings Leadership: Fox News has been the most-watched cable news network in the United States for over 20 consecutive years, surpassing CNN in January 2002. The network's prime-time programming consistently attracts 3 to 4 million viewers, compared to approximately 1 to 1.5 million for MSNBC and 600,000 to 900,000 for CNN. This ratings dominance has been consistently documented by Nielsen Media Research.

Emmy Awards: Fox News journalists and programs have received Emmy Awards, including regional Emmy Awards for news coverage. The network's breaking news reporting and political coverage have been recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Edward R. Murrow Awards: Fox News has received Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) for excellence in electronic journalism. These awards recognize outstanding achievement in electronic journalism and are among the most respected awards in broadcast news.

FOX News Media Spotlight Awards: Fox News team members are recognized internally through the annual FOX News Media Spotlight Awards, which honor employees who demonstrate performance beyond expectations. The awards are announced by FOX News Media CEO Suzanne Scott and President and Executive Editor Jay Wallace.

Fox News has faced several controversies and legal challenges throughout its history, particularly related to election coverage, defamation lawsuits, sexual harassment scandals, and editorial practices.

Dominion Voting Systems Settlement (2023): In March 2023, Fox News agreed to pay $787.5 million to Dominion Voting Systems to settle a defamation lawsuit related to false claims about voting machine fraud during the 2020 presidential election. Internal communications revealed during the litigation showed that Fox News executives and anchors privately doubted the claims they were broadcasting. This settlement is the largest known defamation settlement in U.S. media history.

Smartmatic Defamation Lawsuit (Ongoing): Fox News faces a $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit from Smartmatic USA Corp over similar election fraud claims aired on the network. In January 2025, the New York State Supreme Court ruled that Fox Corporation must face the claim. This ongoing legal challenge represents continued financial and reputational exposure related to the network's 2020 election coverage.

Sexual Harassment Scandals (2016-2017): Fox News faced significant sexual harassment scandals in 2016 and 2017. Roger Ailes resigned as chairman and CEO in July 2016 following allegations from multiple women, including former anchor Gretchen Carlson. Bill O'Reilly departed in April 2017 following his own harassment settlements. The network paid millions in settlements and implemented harassment prevention policies and training programs. Ailes died in May 2017.

Tucker Carlson Departure (2023): Tucker Carlson, one of Fox News's highest-rated prime-time hosts, departed the network in April 2023, shortly after the Dominion settlement. His departure was a major programming change for the network, though Fox News maintained its ratings leadership after his exit.

Editorial Independence Concerns: Fox News has faced criticism regarding the separation between news coverage and opinion programming. Critics have raised questions about the relationship between news reporting and conservative commentary on the network. The Dominion lawsuit revelations particularly highlighted tensions between the network's news and opinion divisions.

Election Coverage Accuracy: Fox News has been criticized for the accuracy of its election coverage, particularly regarding false claims about election fraud. The network has implemented fact-checking procedures and editorial review processes in response to the Dominion and Smartmatic lawsuits.

Political Bias Allegations: Fox News consistently faces allegations of political bias and conservative partisanship from media critics and competitors. The network maintains that it provides balanced news coverage while acknowledging its conservative-leaning opinion programming in prime time.

Cord-Cutting Challenges: Fox News faces structural challenges from declining cable subscriptions, which reduces its potential audience base. The network has invested in digital platforms including Fox Nation and the Fox News streaming app to address this trend, but continues to face pressure from changing media consumption habits.